Wizkid first introduced the R&B culture to his music making when he dropped the “Ayo” album in 2014. To many, that was an introduction that went unnoticed until the artist dropped “Sounds From The Other Side” sometime in 2017 and it was pronounced that Wizkid had lost the ‘star boy touch’. But did he really?
One of the most appealing things about Wizkid is how unfazed he has gotten through his time in the Nigerian music industry — the many chants of Wizkid being bad at the game has not deterred him from making music just as he feels, he has in fact, grown in a much pleasant manner and has reacted through his music in what we can say is “get on with the program! If you don’t like what I do, there’s always a plethora of artists you can decide to like”
So yes — how much of a lover of Wizkid are you if all you do is bicker about how much you miss the old Wizkid, and refuse to accept the harsh reality of Wizkid embracing his matured sound, and evolved artistry?
When Wizkid released “Sounds From The Other Side”, not many people understood why he would choose to make music like ‘that’. It should in fact be known that the project happens to be one of Wizkid’s most underrated projects and that is because – it launched the rejuvenation of Wizkid’s sound. This writer asks again— how much of a lover of Wizkid are you? If you couldn’t appreciate a project that launched the change in his sound?
Did Wizkid really change? Maybe, maybe not. Despite his evolution, Wizkid still appears to create a fine balance between his old self and his new self — making music for just about any lover of his work.
It is very okay for an artist to embrace change and thus let it translate into his music and behavioural mannerism. Adekunle Gold did that, as did Olamide and yet, some Nigerians find it relatively hard to accept that Wizkid has changed from the little boy that hopped about on stage, to an artist who “steeze wants to kill” figuratively.
It’s not an harsh truth, but true lovers of music, those who appreciate the artistry of Wizkid have come to embrace him and all that his craft stands for — loving “More Love, Less Ego” just as much as they love “Made in Lagos”, refusing to lay comparisons to how much one thrived more than the other. While also counting themselves lucky to be graced when Wizkid hops on a song that reminds them just how much he’s the same as when he started in the industry.
“Wizkid fell off”, “Wizkid fell off”, so the birds chirp — and yet, there’s an excellent stride with which the artist makes his music. His recent release, “Piece of My Heart” featuring Brent Faiyaz is a thoroughly refined R&B sound which surprisingly has sat well within the minds of Nigerians and if judging by the timeline of this writer across various social media platforms, has held no critique, just pure appraisal and approval of how juicy a sound it is.
Yes, it’s important for artistes to always bear their audience in mind while meeting their very need and making music in remembrance of why they started in the very place — or is it? A fine blend of both might not be as bad as. But Wizkid? He makes music with a swagger on the knowledge that those who appreciate his art will understand his growth.
It is on this that the artist rides with confidence and paints the music town red as he wishes.
“Piece Of My Heart” is more than a refined R&B track, it’s the highest peak of the genre outputted by the singer — a display of R&B mastery, finesse, velvety reggae vocals that Wizkid introduces as his verse. If one had to crown the most intentional feature song of the year, “Piece Of My Heart” might have to cop that award.
Despite putting forth many projects as a part of his evolution, it’s still a wonder how many people sing the tale of “old Wizkid” — the one who crooned “yaaga!” and “Wizzy baby!” at the slightest chance.
Here’s a thought to how life would have been if Wizkid had remained the same from 2010 — very much of those wanting for his old self would bore out of his craft and want something different and the reason’s simple — times change, an artist should too.
Again, has Wizkid really changed? We believe the answer should be no, given ‘Wizkid does what Wizkid does’ and he’s still able to somehow keep lovers of his music entrapped in his melodious craft.
Perhaps we missed the icing on Wizkid’s cherry music making, so engrossed with “Pakurumo” and the likes, we missed the fact Wizkid is almost good in any genre he finds himself — perhaps, even missing he might have always had the R&B streak in him, and now that he is at the apex of his music career, his ability to combine creativity and passion merges together to form what this writer will call endearing music.
The artist gearing for the drop of his new song, “Dance” set to drop by November 15 is on a proven maestro level. The smart knowledge of dropping “Piece Of My Heart” for his tender lovers and “Dance” to appease the gods of “Wizkid fell off”; that is if they choose to understand that the old Wizkid never left and he’s always somewhere, dormant in his evolved sound.
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